Imphal, July 17: Manipur High Court has directed the state government to provide details on how many general strikes had been called and the number of working days affected by such strikes in the state over the last 10 years.

A two-judge bench of the high court issued the directive on Tuesday, acting on a public interest litigation filed by sports personality Rajkumar Joysana Singh last year against a 10-day blockade called by the United Naga Council from November 2 midnight.

A two-judge bench issued an interim order in November last year, asking the state to take measures to ensure free plying of supply trucks and private vehicles during the blockade.

Justice N. Kotishwar Singh and Justice Nobin Singh on Tuesday directed the state government to provide information on the adverse impact of such strikes on the social and economic life of the people of Manipur.

"In this regard, the state authorities will be at liberty to take the help of any expert body to assess the impact, including the loss and damage caused by such strikes and blockades, on society," the order said.

Stating that the case is important, the high court also asked the state to seek suggestions on strikes from individuals, clubs, registered organisations and associations like the Associated Manipur Chamber of Commerce or registered employees' union. Suggestions have also been sought from six senior lawyers.

The bench referred the case to the full bench of the high court and the issue was laid before Chief Justice Rakesh Ranjan Prasad for appropriate orders.

Though initially the UNC blockade along the two national highways - Imphal-Dimapur and Imphal-Jiribam - prompted the petition, the petitioner requested that all general strikes across the state be dealt with properly by the government.

The court observed that if the government had taken effective measures earlier, there would not have been such cases of blockades.

The court will take up the case after six weeks from the date of the order.

Citizens' groups in the state frequently call strikes, stage economic blockades and public curfews to highlight their grievances or seek justice in criminal cases.

Manipur perhaps has the maximum number of strikes that severely affect life every year.

A study carried out by an independent researcher, Serto Tondana Kom, who hails from Churachandpur, found that a 24-hour general strike costs Manipur more than Rs 36.19 crore, while a blockade bleeds the state of Rs 3.09 crore per day.